Dual capacity sink

ABSTRACT

A dual capacity sink has two basins divided by a divider which extends to a much lesser height than the peripheral walls of the sink. In one capacity the sink is capable of holding a volume of fluid, such as soap or rinse water, in one or both of the basins up to the top the divider. In this capacity, the basins can be used individually, for example, one to wash and one to rinse. In another capacity the sink is capable of holding a second volume of fluid using the two basins and also the available space in the sink above the divider. In this second capacity the sink effectively becomes a large single basin sink. There is sufficient fluid in the sink above the divider for submerging items that are larger than either of the basins individually. A method of washing items in such a sink is also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No.60/652,469, filed on Feb. 11, 2005.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wash basins, and in particular tokitchen sinks.

Kitchen sinks are well known. They can be formed of any number ofmaterials, such as ceramics, metal, cast iron, polymers, etc, and have abottom and upright side walls defining an open volume of space. Thisvolume can be divided into two or more basins by one or moreintermediate partitions that extend between the sides walls. Doublebasin sinks are common in kitchen applications, see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos.D203,802 and D478,970. The basins can be of equal or different size andconfiguration, and each basin usually has a stoppable drain at thebottom.

The partition in double basin kitchen sinks is typically referred to asa divider that extends between front and rear side walls to form twobasins that are situated side by side. The two basins are commonly usedto wash dishes and the like in which one basin holds soapy water and theother holds rinse water (or contains water sprayed from a faucet). Tokeep the soap water and rinse water from commingling and to maximize thevolume of water each basin can hold, the divider typically extendsvertically up to or very near the top of the sink, see e.g., U.S. Pat.No. D362,901.

The double basin sink can hold two separate volumes of water. However,this comes at the cost of dividing the overall size of the sink,typically into about two halves. Since the capacity of the sink is madesmaller by dividing it into two basins, double basin sinks cannot fullysubmerge certain large items as well as single basin sinks of equal rimsize. Thus, the conventional sinks require a tradeoff between thefunctionality of double basins and the capacity of a single basin. Thislong-standing problem has not been adequately addressed by the priorart.

Another problem is that the tall dividers of conventional double basinsinks often acts an obstruction. For example, when filling a pot withwater, or when washing dishes, it is common to hold the item under thefaucet. Since the space between the divider for faucet is typicallysmall, many taller items must be set down into a basin to be rinsed orfilled, which is inconvenient if that basin is being used. Pull out andextra tall faucets have been developed in part to address this problem.The tall dividers of conventional double basin sinks also require theuser to lift the item up a significant distance when moving it from onebasin to the other, as when moving a pot from the wash basin to therinse basin.

Thus, an improved sink with increased flexibility and usability isneeded to address these concerns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sink that can effectively be a largesingle basin sink and alternatively a double basin sink in which each ofthe two basins can hold a meaningful volume of water to wash dishes andthe like. The dual capacity sink has a very low height divider thatdivides the sink into two individual basins only at a lower portion ofthe sink. This allows the sink to be used in one capacity as a doublebasin sink in which the sink can hold one or more smaller (and separate)volumes of fluid, for example, one basin holding wash water and theother holding rinse water. The sink would be used in this capacity towash smaller dishes and other items. The sink can also be used in asecond capacity as a large single basin sink in which it contains fluidin the basins and above the divider. The sink would be used in thiscapacity to wash baking sheets, pans and other larger items.

Specifically, in one aspect the sink has a bottom and upright side wallsextending along the periphery of the sink to a rim at a first heightfrom the bottom. The sink defines a first basin and a second basindivided by a divider that extends to a second height which is less thanthe first height. In one capacity the sink is capable of holding a firstvolume of fluid in one of the basins at a level no greater than thesecond height, and in a second capacity the sink is capable of holding asecond volume of fluid in the basins at a level greater than the secondheight. A sufficient volume of fluid in the sink above the divider canbe used for submerging items in sink that are too large to be submergedin either of the basins individually.

In another aspect the invention provides a dual capacity sink the heightof the divider is significantly less than the peripheral side walls ofthe sink. In one preferred form, the height of the divider is about 20to 70 percent, an more preferably between 50-60 percent, of the heightof the side walls. As one preferred example, the height of the sidewalls can be about 9 inches and the divider can extend up to a height ofabout 5 inches. The vertical distance between the top of the divider andthe side walls can thus be about 4 inches, with a usable depth of atleast about 1½ inches.

The two divided basins can be substantially equal in size andconfiguration or they can be unequal such that they can hold the samevolume or different volumes. As well, the bottom of each divided basiscan be at the same height or at different heights so that each differentvolumes can be achieved with basins made of the same front to back andside to side dimensions.

Irrespective of the size and configuration of the divided basins, eachcan hold the same or different volumes of fluid. Thus, in its doublebasin capacity the sink can be used to hold one volume (of water forexample) in one basin and a second volume in the other basin, and thenbe filled to a third volume which exceeds the volumes of each basinindividually, and this can be all be achieved consecutively withoutdraining either of the divided basins.

The dual capacity sink can provide three fluid zones, one in each of thebasins and a third above the divider and the basin zones. Each zone canthus be used for a different purpose. For example, small items or itemsthat require soaking can be contained in one or both of the basin zonesat the bottom of the sink, while other items, such as large pots orbaking sheets, could be washed in the zone above the two basins. Thecleaning of items in the upper zone would not be inhibited by the itemsin the basins.

The sink can also include a faucet having a spout with an outlet thatcan direct a spray of fluid from the spout into each of the dividedbasins. The low divider provides additional clearance under the faucetsuch that items in the upper zone can fit under the outlet and sprayed.Preferably, the outlet of the faucet is at a height of about 6-12 inchesor more above the top of the divider depending on the size of thefaucet.

Another aspect of the dual capacity sink is its use for washing items.The method can include supplying fluid to a first zone of the sinkcorresponding to the first basin; supplying fluid to a second zone ofthe sink corresponding to the second basin; supplying fluid to a thirdzone of the sink corresponding to the volume of the sink verticallyabove the basins and the divider; and submerging in the fluid an itemthat is too large to be submerged in either of the basins individuallysuch that a portion of the item is in the third zone above the divider.

Thus, the dual capacity sink of the present invention provides a markedimprovement over conventional sinks. Its low height divider allows thesink to effectively be two sinks in one. The sink can be a double basinsink allowing containment of one or more lesser volumes of water forwashing (and rinsing) smaller items. And, the sink can be a large,single basin sink for washing large items. In other words, it providesincreased capacity for washing large items without losing thefunctionality of the double basins. The low divider also facilitatestransferring items, especially heavy items, between the basins, andprovides more clearance, and thus less obstruction, between the sink andfaucet.

These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe detailed description and drawings. What follows are preferredembodiments of the present invention. To assess the full scope of theinvention the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodimentsare not intended as the only embodiments within the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual capacity sink according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof shown in a double basin capacity inwhich two basins in the lower part of the sink contain water;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof shown in a single basin capacity inwhich the sink has a volume of water extending above a divider thatdivides the basins;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing anitem to be washed in one of the basins as well as faucet for fillingeach of the basins;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing how alarger item, such as the baking sheet shown, could be washed in thesingle basin capacity of the sink;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the dual capacitysink according to the present invention in which the divided basins areof equal size; and

FIGS. 8-11 are views similar to FIGS. 3-6, albeit corresponding to theequal basin version of the sink shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a first dual capacity sink 10 having unequallysized basins 12 and 14, and FIGS. 7-11 illustrate an alternate sink 10Ain which the basins 12A and 14A are the same other than being mirrorimages. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11 can be readily understoodfrom a description of the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment in that it is generallythe same but for the equal sized basins and the addition of a back deck16, which can be used to mount a faucet 18 (such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6,10 and 11) which can spray water directly into each of the basins. Giventhe similarity of the two sinks 10 and 10A, the following descriptionwill be directed only to the sink 10 shown in FIGS. 1-6.

The sink 10 can be made of cast iron or other materials, and referringto FIGS. 1 and 2, it has the larger, primary basin 14 and the smallerbasin 12. The sink has a bottom 22 and front 24, rear 26, left 28, andright 30 upright side walls with a turned rim 32 extending along theupper periphery of the side walls. The sink 10A includes the back deck16, such that the rim 32 is wider at the rear side wall 26 than at theothers. The bottom of both basins 12 and 14 is at the same height andboth each are generally planar with a slight decline toward drainopenings 34 and 36 to assist in draining the basins 12 and 14. The drainopenings 34 and 36 can be closed using conventional drain stops (notshown), and optionally a disposal unit (not shown) could be attached toeither drain, preferably the drain 34 of the smaller basin 12.

The bottom 22 melds into a low height divider 38, which can be in theform of a “saddle” with an inverted U-shape, that runs between the front24 and rear 26 side walls to define the two basins 12 and 14. Referringto FIGS. 5 and 6, the top of the divider 38 extends up from the bottomof the basins 12 and 14 to a first height A, which is considerably lessthan the height B to which the side walls extend.

In one size of the sink 10, the height A is approximately 5 inches andthe height B is approximately 9 inches. In that case, there is about 4inches between of vertical distance in the sink 10 above the divider 38,that is above the basins 12 and 14. Of the 4 inches, at least about 2-3inches of vertical distance is available to accommodate fluid volume.Common sizes of the sink will typically have a peripheral wall height ofbetween about 6-9 inches and a divider height of between about 2-6inches. However, the divider height is preferably no greater than about70% of the sink wall height and no less than about 20%. Using thepreferred dimensions given above, the divider 38 extends up only alittle more than half, about 56%, of the height of the side walls. Asmentioned, however, a divider height in the range of 20-70% the heightof the side walls should be suitable. And, the vertical distancedbetween heights A and B is about 2-4 inches or more, and preferably atleast 1½ inches.

The sink 10 can also have an overall rim dimension, for example, 33inches by 22 inches. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the basin 12 wouldthen have dimensions of about 9 inches by 17, and with a 5 inch dividerheight, its volumetric zone would be about 765 cubic inches(approximately 3.3 gallons). The basin 14 would be about 19 inches by 17inches giving it a volumetric zone of about 1,615 cubic inches(approximately 7 gallons). The space above the divider 38 would havedimensions of about 30 inches by 17 inches by 4 inches resulting in avolumetric zone of 2,040 cubic inches (approximately 8.8 gallons). For a33 inches by 22 inches sink with a height A of 9 inches and a height Bof between 1½ and 6½ inches, the volumetric capacities would be in therange of about 230 cubic inches (1 gallon) to 965 cubic inches (4.2gallons) for basin 12, 485 cubic inches (2.1 gallons) to 2,035 (8.8gallons) for basin 14, and 3,825 cubic inches (16.5 gallons) to 1,275cubic inches (5.5 gallons) for the upper zone above the divider. Whilethese values are given by way of example, they are not intended to belimiting. Preferably, however, each zone should be at least about 230cubic inches (or at least about 1 gallons).

Thus, as can be seen each zone of the sink 10 is of significant volumesufficient for washing items. In the sink 10 shown in the drawings, thelarge upper zone above the divider 38 provides the largest volume andthus can accommodate larger items.

All of the above dimensions are provided merely by way of example. Ofcourse, the sink could be made to other dimensions so long as each basin12 and 14 can provide a significant volume of fluid to immerse itemstherein sufficient to wash the items and so that the sink provides azone of a significant volume of fluid vertically above the divider 38that is sufficient to completely immerse some items that are too largeto be submerged in one of the basins 12 or 14.

This low divider height also facilitates transfer of items between thebasins 12 and 14 as well as greater clearance between the faucet 18, andin particular the outlet 40 thereof, which is at a height C. The heightC of the faucet outlet will vary, of course, depending upon the faucetselected. However, in all cases the low height A will be a benefitbecause the increased clearance will allow taller items to fit betweenthe faucet 18 and the divider 38. Clearance distances in the range of6-12 inches, preferably about 8 inches, should be expected using thesink 10 of having the preferred dimensions stated above. If suchincreased clearance is not important to the consumer, the lower dividerheight could allow the faucet outlet height C to be lower than normal toreduce splashing.

As best shown in shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sink 10 is dual capacitybecause the very low height divider 38 divides the sink into twoindividual basins only at a lower portion of the sink 10. This allowsthe sink 10 to be used in one capacity as a double basin sink (as inFIG. 3) in which the sink 10 can hold one or more smaller volumes offluid, such as basin 14 holding soap water and basin 12 holding rinsewater, to wash small dishes. The sink 10 can also be used in a secondcapacity as a large single basin sink (as in FIG. 4) in which it holds alarger volume of fluid, including above the divider, to wash largeritems, such as a baking sheet or pizza dish.

The sink 10 can provide three fluid zones, one in each of the basins 12and 14 and a third vertically above the divider 38 and the basin zones.Each zone can thus be used for a different purpose. For example, smallitems or items that require soaking can be contained in one or both ofthe basin zones at the bottom of the sink while other items, such aslarge pots or baking sheets, could be washed in the zone above the twobasins. The cleaning of items in the upper zone would not be inhibitedby the items in the basins. Grease and food from items in the basins 12and 14 would be less likely to come into contact with the items in theupper zone above the divider 38.

The sink 10 can be used to hold one volume of fluid in one basin and adifferent (or possibly equivalent) volume in the other basin, and thenbe filled to yet another larger volume, which exceeds the volumes ofeach basin individually. One or both of the basins 12 and 14 can besupplied with water directly from the faucet 18. Alternatively, onebasin could be filled to reach the top of the divider 38 and then excesswater would spill over into the other basin. In either case, water wouldbe supplied to the upper zone above the divider 38 by first filling bothbasins 12 and 14 up to the divider 38.

A user could wash dishes and the like in the sink 10 by supplying fluidto one basin or to both of the basins (or zones) of the sink, either bydirectly filling each or filling one basin fully to create spill overinto the other basin. The appropriately dishes could be washed andrinsed in the sink in its double basin capacity. Once the smaller disheshave been washed, the water could be drained (perhaps only from the washbasin) or if the water was not too dirty or tepid, both basins could befilled up to the top of the divider so that the water level would riseand fill the upper zone of the sink vertically above the basins and thedivider. Then, larger items could be washed by placing the item entirelyin the upper zone above the divider or in the upper zone and one or moreof the basins. In this way, the sink 10 could accommodate items thatwere larger than a maximum dimension of each of the basins.

It should be appreciated that preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been described above. However, many modifications and variations tothe preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art,which will be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. Toascertain the full scope of the invention, the following claims shouldbe referenced.

1. A sink comprising a bottom and upright side walls extending up alongthe periphery of the sink to a rim at a first height from the bottom,the sink also having a first basin and a second basin divided by adivider, the divider extending up to a second height less than the firstheight, wherein in a first capacity the sink is capable of holding afirst volume of fluid in one of the first and second basins at a levelno greater than the second height, and in a second capacity the sink iscapable of holding a second volume of fluid in the first and secondbasins combined and also at a level greater than the second height suchthat there can be a sufficient volume of fluid in the sink between thefirst and second heights usable for submerging an item in the sink abovethe divider that is too large to be submerged in either of the first andsecond basins individually.
 2. The sink of claim 1, wherein the secondheight is between 20 and 70 percent of the first height.
 3. The sink ofclaim 2, wherein the first height is between about 6-9.
 4. The sink ofclaim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second heights is atleast 1.5 inches.
 5. The sink of claim 1, wherein the first and secondbasins are substantially equal in volume.
 6. The sink of claim 1,wherein the first and second basins are unequal in volume.
 7. The sinkof claim 1, wherein the bottom of the first basin is essentially at thesame height as the bottom of the second basin.
 8. The sink of claim 1,wherein the basin includes a drain opening in the bottom of at each ofthe first and second basins.
 9. The sink of claim 1, wherein the sink iscast iron.
 10. The sink of claim 1, positioned adjacent a faucet havinga spout with an outlet positionable to direct a spray of fluid from thespout into each of the first and second basins.
 11. The sink of claim10, wherein the outlet is disposed at a third height at a distance of atleast 6 inches above the second height.
 12. The sink of claim 1, whereineach of the first and second basins can contain 1 gallon of fluid.
 13. Asink comprising a bottom and upright side walls extending up along theperiphery of the sink to a rim at a first height from the bottom, thesink also having a first basin and a second basin divided by a divider,the divider extending to a second height less than the first height,wherein in a first capacity the sink is capable of holding a firstvolume of fluid in one of the first and second basins at a level nogreater than the second height, and in a second capacity the sink iscapable of holding a second volume of fluid in the first and secondbasins combined and also at a level greater than the second height such,wherein the second height is no more than 70 percent of the firstheight.
 14. A method of washing items in a sink having first and secondbasins separated by a divider, the method comprising: supplying fluid toa first zone of the sink corresponding to said first basin; supplyingfluid to a second zone of the sink corresponding to said second basin;supplying fluid to a third zone of the sink corresponding to a volume ofthe sink vertically above said first and second basins and said divider;and submerging in the fluid the item to be washed where the item is toolarge to be submerged in either basin such that at least portion of theitem is in the third zone.